Color image authentication using QR code through spatially varying polarization in vectorial light fields

Secure optical encoding can be achieved by utilizing light fields with spatially varying polarization. This paper presents a security-enhanced optical color image authentication method that encodes information through non-uniform polarization distribution in vectorial light fields. In our method, Quick Response (QR) codes are embedded as a data carrier as a part of the scheme. By integrating engineered polarization states and the QR codes, the scheme offers a secure cryptographic framework for color image authentication. The proposed approach is validated through both simulation and experimental results, confirming feasibility and effectiveness of our approach. The results highlight the potential of polarization-based image authentication.